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Post by kmage on Oct 4, 2022 20:48:43 GMT
Found a cute stamp set on scrapbook.com, was 20, now 10, so 50% off. Yay! Then decided I'd like the dies too. Dies are 15. So now stamp and die set is 25. Sigh. That just seems like a lot...I am trying to ask myself if I saw the set for 25$ and it wasn't on sale, would I jump on it. I don't know...am I just being cheap, or are stamps and dies always this expensive? Admittedly I don't have a ton and most are 2nd hand. ETA: This is the set I got. I love these little guys and they look like they would be fun to color. I just love the two with the pumpkin. www.scrapbook.com/store/hbs-hbst-370.htmlHedgehugs, 10.99 |
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,822
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Oct 4, 2022 21:09:48 GMT
They are expensive kmage. Can you link it so we have a better idea about what you want to purchase? |
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Post by Linda on Oct 4, 2022 21:19:31 GMT
They are expensive which is why I pretty much only buy used or on clearance - it's pretty rare for me to buy even on sale and I can't think of a set I paid full price for.
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
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Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Oct 4, 2022 21:23:27 GMT
 Yeah, what azcrafty said. What's worse is the companies that charge $20 for a 4x6 stamp set as their regular price. But add the dies in? Those are not cheap for any stamp set. Sometimes I splurge, and sometimes just pass. Made is the USA or not, I think most die sets are over-priced for what you are getting.
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Post by cmpeter on Oct 5, 2022 1:17:47 GMT
Compared to the Stamptember sets, that seems like a deal. I passed on more than a few during Stamptember because the sets were up above $50.
Think of how much a single Hallmark type card would cost ($4-$5)? How many cards would you make with the $25 set. And, then don't forget to factor in the enjoyment. Spend 2 hours making your cards. If you spent 2 hours at the movie theater or another activity, how much would you spend?
At least that's how I try and rationalize some of my purchases. :-)
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Post by joblackford on Oct 5, 2022 1:42:37 GMT
What cmpeter said - those prices are pretty low! I was just given $100 to spend at Taylored Expressions and that translates to 3 or maybe 4 items because they're all about $35 each (at least the things I'm interested in). I'm pretty choosy about stamps sets these days. They need to be either really easy to use for lots of cards or really flexible (or really really lovely!) And I justified buying a ScanNCut so I wouldn't buy matching dies any more. It doesn't take long to pay for a machine at current prices, although I'm a bit lazy about using it.
But it comes down to whether you'll get lots of use out of it. Does it go really well with your style? Can you imagine using it the day it arrives? Is it trendy or timeless? Do you already have something similar or that you could use instead? Do you have space for it? Can you afford it? (I regularly spend more than that on a dinner that I enjoy for maybe an hour, maybe not even that much.) Have you been looking for something like it or did you just stumble across it?
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Post by Linda on Oct 5, 2022 1:53:45 GMT
oh that is adorable! (reminds myself I have plenty of hedgehog stamps already)
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Post by riversong1963 on Oct 5, 2022 1:59:06 GMT
That is a very cute stamp set. I agree that the prices for stamps & dies are way too high. I have a Silhouette Portrait, and I use the Pic Scan mat to scan and cut the stamped images out. If they’re easy to cut by hand, I do that.
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Post by kmage on Oct 5, 2022 2:20:10 GMT
Does it go really well with your style? Can you imagine using it the day it arrives? Is it trendy or timeless? Do you already have something similar or that you could use instead? Do you have space for it? Can you afford it? (I regularly spend more than that on a dinner that I enjoy for maybe an hour, maybe not even that much.) Have you been looking for something like it or did you just stumble across it? joblackford, these are excellent questions and I appreciate you making me think about it this way. I think I will save this to do in the future! It doesn't go with my current style, but honestly I am trying different things and I don't really have any cute animals besides a narwhal. What I am trying not to buy is more florals. Yes, I want to make some Fall cards with it right away! No, I do not have anything similar, especially with a Fall theme. Yes, I have space for it. Yes, I can afford it, it just feels like a lot because I usually get my stamps second hand at the thrift store or on clearance or garage sales, etc. I was looking for a Fall stamp set and found this, it was cuter than I expected and I had just been looking at leaves and fall florals. I did get it! (and the dies) cmpeter , you make very good points. I appreciate it! |
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azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,822
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Oct 5, 2022 3:26:38 GMT
I'm glad you got it kmage. I'm sorry I didn't see the stamp and dies until now. And for $25 thats a good deal. There is a lot of pieces in the die set and the stamp is adorable. I meant my first comment that in general dies and stamps are expensive. |
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Post by grammadee on Oct 5, 2022 3:31:25 GMT
Those stamps are adorable, kmage. And if you tend to stamp and then cut out to make little scenes and clusters, the dies will save you a ton of time. |
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Post by joblackford on Oct 5, 2022 3:40:17 GMT
Those are really cute! And you get a TON of dies for that price, I think it's good value. I was only expecting to see the outlines of the hedgies. Honey Bee make good products, I like them a lot. Glad my endless questioning was helpful  Hedgedogs and narhwals are a good place to start with cute animals. You can use some of the same "stuck with you" puns as with cactuses, if you enjoy puns. |
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Post by Embri on Oct 5, 2022 4:07:16 GMT
These days I won't look at a product that isn't less than 5$. There's so many easily accessible designs and options that I cannot justify the prices on American stamp/die sets. I don't find the cost vs. materials / production value to be fair or justifiable. There isn't even any artwork involved in making coordinating dies. If anything, they should be considerably cheaper than a regular die set, but it's the opposite.
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Post by kmage on Oct 5, 2022 12:48:57 GMT
I'm glad you got it kmage . I'm sorry I didn't see the stamp and dies until now. And for $25 thats a good deal. There is a lot of pieces in the die set and the stamp is adorable. I meant my first comment that in general dies and stamps are expensive. Oh for sure! I completely understood that, and they are insanely expensive. I have a couple sets at full price, they were a birthday gift, because there was no way for me to justify the price of the stampin' up set I got lol. With dies. But every time I use that set I am glad I got it. |
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
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Post by scrapnnana on Oct 8, 2022 8:20:34 GMT
Stamps and dies are expensive, but if you love and use them, they are worth the cost IMO. If you use them to make a card because they make you smile, they are probably going to make the recipient of the card smile, too. That is what makes buying them worth it to me. Enjoy your new stamps and dies, kmage! |
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Post by positivelyreek on Nov 7, 2022 14:31:22 GMT
Stamps that have a matching die are always pricey to me. When I can get a good deal, I jump on it. A few years ago I bought a Brother Scan N cut, hoping it would prevent me from needing a die for each stamp, but I still end up getting dies.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,204
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Post by scrapnnana on Nov 7, 2022 17:24:14 GMT
Stamps that have a matching die are always pricey to me. When I can get a good deal, I jump on it. A few years ago I bought a Brother Scan N cut, hoping it would prevent me from needing a die for each stamp, but I still end up getting dies. Same here. Although I do use it for cutting out some stamped images. Sometimes a die is just fast and easy. |
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Post by angel97701 on Nov 7, 2022 21:45:47 GMT
Stamps that have a matching die are always pricey to me. When I can get a good deal, I jump on it. A few years ago I bought a Brother Scan N cut, hoping it would prevent me from needing a die for each stamp, but I still end up getting dies. Same here. Although I do use it for cutting out some stamped images. Sometimes a die is just fast and easy. Yes, this is me as well! The nice rolled edges from dies are also nice, as the Brother Scan N Cut actually has the edge slightly towards the image instead of away from it. I use my bone folder to rectify this situation when it really bothers me! |
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Hedgedogs and narhwals are a good place to start with cute animals. You can use some of the same "stuck with you" puns as with cactuses, if you enjoy puns.
